Double-acting hinge frame



Jan. 13, 1953 c. w. KUJAWA DOUBLE-ACTING HINGE FRAME Filed Aug. 18, 1950 INVENTOR A W M s U v I Y W E w m s O N T E T E L C Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

2,624,909 fnoUBLr- AoTmG HINGE FRAME CleinehsW Kujawmflhddhy, Wis. Application August. 18, 195.0,IeriaLhlo; 180,140:

l: Claim.

'1 This invention appertains to swinging closures and more particularly toa novel door structure, whereby the door can be openedlfrom either side of an opening and is an improvementover my Patent No. 2,511,777, issuedtome June 13, 1950.

One of theprimaray objects of my present invention. is to provide novel means for mounting a door to permit the opening thereof from either side of anopening, thestructure being such that a. heavy door, suchas the'insul'ateddoor of a refrigerator, can be effectively supported against sagging from both sides thereof. I

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a novel structure for a double hung door, whereby the active. size of the door opening is not diminished and whereby a close fit can be had between thedoor and-door frame, and whereby the door and/or frame can readily be provided with insulating strips or'gaskets should" the door be for a refrigerator.

A further object of my invention. is the provision of a one piece relatively thin metal frame plate having an opening therein corresponding exactly to. the size of the door opening. and adapted to set flat against the door frame or around the door opening, the frame plate being hingedly connected along one entire vertical edge to the frame or refrigerator, and the opposite edge of the frame plate, having hingedly connected thereto along the entire length thereof, the closure door, whereby either the door or frame plate can be swung open on the door frame or refrigerator as a unit on one side of the opening, or the door can be swung open alone on the frame plate on the other side of the door opening.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the frame plate can be detachably latched to the door frame or refrigerator against accidental swinging movement and whereby the door can be detachably latched to the frame plate against accidental swinging movement.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved door structure of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1' is a front elevational view of arefrigerator equipped with my improveddborstrucb ture, the door being shown swung open. on its frame plate. I I I Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2' of Figure 1,1ook'in'g in the direction of the arrows. I I Y Figure 3 is a-view-si'milar to Figure- 2,.but-sh0wing the door and the frame plate swungv open on the refrigerator asa..unit.. I

Figure 4 is av detail vertical. sectionaliview taken on the. line 4-4- ofiFigurez looking in the direction of the arrows, illustratingthelatchfor connecting. the frame plate with the door. frame or refrigerator, I 5 I Figure. 5- is a detail vertical sectionalyiew taken on the line 5-5 of. Figure 3,.looking inx thedirection. of the arrows, illustrating the latchrfor detachably connecting the. door to the. frame plate.

Figure 6- is an explodedviewshowing the frame plate and-the hinges prior tothe forming of the hingebarrels andparts ofthe latches Referring to the-drawing in; detail wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter D generally indicates my improved door structure as a whole which can be utilized in connection with any door or window opening or the like. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown my door structure D incorporated with a refrigerator R.

The refrigerator R per se forms no part of the present invention and can be of the usual character now found in the open market and can be provided with the usual body Ill, having the main opening II to permit access to be had to the interior of th refrigerator. The body of the refrigerator can be provided with an upper freezing compartment l2 and shelves I3.

The improved door structure D comprises a door I4 and a door frame plate [5.

The door M can also be of any desired character and of a size and shape to entirely close the opening II, and in the case of a refrigerator, the door Hi can be insulated in any desired way. The door frame plate I5 is preferably formed from relatively thin sheet metal material and is shaped to set fiat against a door frame around the opening and is of such a size so as to correspond exactly with the size of the door opening I I.

One vertical edge of the frame plate 15 is connected at one side of the door frame or opening H by a piano type hing l6, and it is to be noted that the hinge extends substantially the entire height of the frame plate I 5. This is for the purpose of providing an adequate hinge support. The opposite vertical edge of the door frame I5 is hingedly connected to the door I4 by means of a piano type hing I I, and it is to be noted that this hinge extends the entire height of the frame plate I5, and the door I4 so as to prevent sagging of the door I4. The hinges I6 and H can be formed in any desired way, and as illustrated in Figure 6, hinge barrels I8 can be formed on the opposite vertical edges of th frame plate I5 if so desired, and obviously, the hinge leaf I9 for the hinge I6 can be riveted or otherwise fastened.

to the refrigerator and a hinge leaf 2D for the hinge I! can be riveted or otherwise fastened to the edge of the door I4. If preferred, a hinge leaf can be riveted or otherwise secured to frame I5 instead of forming th hinge barrels I8 directly on the frame.

From the description so far, it can be seen that the door I4 when it is closed will fit flat against the frame plate I5 and leakage around the door and the frame plate and between the frame plate and the door frame will b reduced to a minimum. Likewise, suitable gaskets can be utilized around the door and the frame plate I5.

Considering that the door I4 is in its closed position, then the door can be swung open on the hinge I! at one side of the door opening or refrigerator R, as shown in Figure 2. If it is more convenient to open the door from the other side, and considering that the door I4 is in its closed position, then the frame plate can be swung open on the hinge I6 carrying the door I4 therewith, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

One of the important features of my invention is the provision of means whereby the frame plate I5 can be detachably latch d to the refrigerator body or door frame, and whereby the door I4 can be detachably latched to the frame plate. Any desired type and character of latches can be utilized, and one preferred type of latch for the frame plate and for the door and frame plate has been illustrated. Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 4, the frame plate I5 on the opposite side thereof from the hinge I6 can be provided with an inwardly directed resilient latch arm 2|, and this latch arm can be formed directly from the frame plate I5. A keeper 22 can be 5 secured to the door frame or the refrigerator, and

when the latch arm engages the keeper 22, the

frame plate I5 will b detachably connected to the refrigerator.

To detachably latch the door I4 to the frame plate I5, the frame plate I5 on the opposite side thereof from the hinge I1 is provided'with an inwardly directed arm 23 carrying a keeper 24 for receiving the latch nose 25 rigidly secured to the door I4 adjacent to the edge which is remote from the hinge II.

It can be seen that when it is desired to swing open the door I4 on the frame plate I5, that the door is grasped, and obviously, the door can be provided with a hand grip at this point, adjacent to its edge remote from the hinge II, an opening movement will not affect the hinge I6 but will permit the free pening of the door. When the door and door frame is grasped at the edge remote from the hinge l6, then the door and door frame can be swung open as a unit.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention, but what I claim as new is:

In a double hung door structure for refrigerators and the like, an open frame plate adapted to fit flat against a refrigerator around its door opening, hinge barrels formed on the opposite outer vertical edges of the frame plate, and a latch arm and a latch support formed on the 35 inner vertical edges of the frame plate.

CLEMENS W. KUJAWA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 40 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,892,491 Mastrangelo et al. Dec. 2'7, 1932 2,166,534 Rosenfeld July 18, 1939 

